Unitary container and atomizer for liquids



June 16, 1953 J, 3 MQNTEMER 2,642,313

UNITARY CONTAINER AND ATOMIZER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 27, 1947 lll Patented `une 16, '1953 i y 2,642,313 Y UNrrAnX- CONTAINER AND A'lQMIZEl Jules B. Montenier', Chicago, Ill. Applieaionftobr 27, 1947;'Serie119. mme Y lClillflS Myinvention relatesto atomizers for 'liguila particularly liquid cosmetics such as perfumes', lotions, and Vastringent or kantieperspirant isnluf tions, but `may be utilized fora wide; variety of other yliquids such a'smedicines', insectiidesgfand the like. Y `zSuenatomizers ashaxie heretofore been-'known in the'art,` generally. speaking, have compriseda suitable chamber' or receptacle of ya flexible or deformable material suc'h-l as rubber or .tl-1in sheet metal-'for hou'sing..olie` liquid to be. atomizedK in Combination Withzrneans for .causingia spray. In 'atiil'east most cases', the. atomizing means ,has protruded from .the container proper', a fact which haS-.made'itdificultoreumbersome to ship or'store the containeriand;atomizing'means asia unit. A`In accordance with vmy invention, the combinationpackage .or container. ancixatonzer presents the' outwardrappearanoe of Van ordinary bottle, there being -no .protuberances ,soy far as :thelatomr izenm'edhanism is-'conc'erned, and said package serveslas'fthe article which isspurchased by :the consumer with 'the'.contents, andthe atomizing means previouslyfxdispo'sed or arranged therein byJ-tii'e manufacturer. 'Thefpackageg in its pare ticularly preferred embodiment, -is madeof a flexible, i transparent or translucent synthetic plastie` liorhexample, :of the-vinyl, methacrylata polystyrenaLor 4polyethylene type, yparticularly -tlielatter, .and; Sas previously pointed' out, has the outward appearance of 'an ordinary :bottle aridi-may-bey packaged; handled.: and' stored as such. It may, if desiredgzbemadeso'astobelnonf `refill-Table'lait-erVatornization of its '.contentsgthe l atomizingaperture` or opening, insuch casenbee ing made-soi smallffthat rliquid could not-for all practical purposes, be spassed:.therethroughfto `rejll'the container'. The inventien'is illustratedinthe accompany? 'ing drawingS-:wherei-nz' Fig, lfis a perspectiverviewof a. preferred outf ward.'formlthatfthe'-)container maystake'vfor ease off 1handling.and .ejectingf.=the;;liquid contents in t *the formi of a'nespraW-the Yclosnre:cap being shown in' removed'position; F.ig.- 2. .is Aa :vertical central sectional viewiofone embodimenttof my invention; ,'flig. 3 isanexplo'ded View' Sh 0.vili rlg,'irl-.IJlslleC-` .it-ive, Vthelparts which comprise the sprayfforming vconstruction;

' Fig.'.4 is.a sectiontakenalona tha-ine. rof` YAFig. :5. ya l section :taken along the 1iY ef5=511f TFigari; Y Y f Eig. eis avertical sectional vvewnfallot1erf n1- i particularly prefeaed embodiment of v my invention wherein only'the Sprayfforming means is {bodirnentof' Fig.- 7 but :different `ther-efrom -1nv 'a detail as described hereafter.

Considering, ilrstr the` embodiment Shown in f Figs, `1 5;, inlusiztaztheeont ner made Q f a f eaiblesyntheti@ plastic, partisularly f trantnarent or translucent .baraqten has the C Qrlf 5 ,enraton s in Fig, l and. is provided-withal; edfnels V5l aorrespondngr 1o plnejand lianes@ da rigid transparn. tQ -;ransl1.1ee1 1t;synt 1 plasma ofthe pols/metile@ methyl methaQrylate type, is shown in detail in Figs,3,fl and 5; The plus twbichhasanulper ,flange 5,4. which is Cylindrl i isairte to beseetd'n t the meer@ positienin said pcket i @rough z femiessadroeretf tral extended'aperture w o with a Short @inerte-re. .63 O f redeem diameter at the upper part of lsaid"mlelfnber 61, 'thve'fvlgtter have utorilnolded therein.

v ith atleast one hatand Preiefably as d vertical side Walls therfore 'that .with Sheva in Eig- 4, Opposite Paseeewaye and 69 are-provided' which C0., menate, with the passageway-ramdam 'the vere@ -q Disease@ within theirtur 62l .isa

tube l levi/ nich yis pre erably4 made oa .transparent r textranelrehi flexible Srnthei DlSfi and'X- In 11.5?, thllufn the G10-Farmer- 50 Sind vWith the partsfaesembled. :aS-Shown 'in Fles-21 and a the-capgzof c se being removednpon de flforining lsaid lcoA erfby squeezingliftA in `the handing liquid Qi' fo'rced 1through`lth `tube ifl'fl and simultaneously ir Within the containeris Greed @meusebassagewaysiga and :69. The 11duid which:issues. tnrngh' aperture"5 3 comminles wireline air comingfrip .opposite directions along the groove 65 andthe comrnineled'irlqthere 0f asprayftheerless 0f :which may be prede@ mined :as described :herafth In Rigs. 6 and? l'sho-W ap-articularly preferred embodiment of -my invention Vvxzherein the con.- struction is characterized fby .extreme .simplicity andere@ effectiveness A Sshpwn" inthcse iig'- vures, the plugl 'has a ftopiflngeportion, lfa ,conduit-82, .ya cylindricall Wallhll, and, Vspaced therefrom; "acentr-ally vap ertur'ed"for' channeled depending cylindrioal .memberi The plug, cylindrical. wants, aridmember-'2&4 are prefer.- .ably formed 'as .011e member p rdtidedwith-at leas ,e Slitand preferably, oppositely disposed slits orradially slotted openuid rei-sturen ejected-through' the cqnduit @Sie ings 80 and 8i which may, if desired, extend through from the outer periphery of the member 84 to establish communication with the cenor channels being denoted by the numerals 86a and 81a. A similar groove may extend along the top part of member 84 so as to establish communication withgrooves 86 and 81 and a shoulder may be provided in the upper part of member 84 against which the tube 88 may rest. Said tube 88, corresponding to the tube 'H in the embodiment of Figs. 1 5, inclusive, is held in position frictionally in the aperture in member 84. The tube 88 Vmay be inserted into the aperture in member 84 varying distances or in xed position against a shoulder, and it will be seen that the volume of air passing through the slotted openings S5 'and 81 and thence through the conduit 32 may be iixed or readily be controlled as desired.

It will be seen, with respect to the embodiment of Figs. 6 and '7, that when the container is compressed by squeezing inthe hand, the liquid is forced upwardly through the tube 8B and simultaneously air within the container is forced through the slotted openings 86 and 81. The liquid issuing from the tube 88 commingles with the air, coming from opposite sides, in the cham- -ber portion to form `an intimate mixture and the air-liquid mixture is ejected through the conduit 82 in the form of a spray the'character of which may be regulated and predetermined `as described hereafter.

The character of the spray as, for example, the iineness thereof land the distance to which it will be projected from the container may be controlled or regulated by a selection of particular dimensions of the air and liquid passages and spray opening and by the angular Vrelationship Aat which the air and liquid streams meet prior to ejection of the mixture thereof through the spray opening. In the embodimentshown in Figs. l-5, inclusive, for example, excellent results are obtained in spraying light liquids containing alcohol, suchas colognes, or heavier liquids, such as under-army deodorants, comprising aqueous 'solutions containing as high as 20% of dissolved salts such as aluminum chloride-where the conduit 59 has a diameter-between about 0.004 and about 0.03 inch, the tube 'Il has an inner diameter between about 0.03 and about 0.06 inch, and the air passageway has an appreciably larger cross sectional area than the conduit 59, for example, from one and one-half to three times the diameter of conduit 59.

In the embodiment of Figs6 and 7, excellent results are obtained where the tube 88 has an internalr diameter of about 0.03 to about 0.06 inch, the conduit 82 has a diameter between about 0.004 and 0.03 incluand the air passageways 86, 01 have an appreciably larger cross sectional area than the conduit 82. If desired, the diameter of conduit 82 and the internal diameter of tube 88 may be approximately equal, for example, about 0.03 inch.

With reference to the distance to which the aefiaei thereof in relation to the .cross-sectional area Yof the' liquid stream. Satisfactory results are obtained for most purposes if the air and liquid streams meet at an acute angle as, for example, at to 85 degrees. The more acute the angle, the greater will be the length of the spray.

In the light of the foregoing description, it will be seen that my invention, as shown by the illustrative embodiments described above, is sharply distinguishable, for example, between the usual bulb atomizers which work on the suction principle and usually have a large valve to replenish the air supply. My invention makes possible, among other things,what may be characterized as a self-contained atomizer in a permanent spray bottle or container of flexible, deformable material Where the fine, misty liquid or spray is produced not by suction created by air pressure but, on the contrary, by the pressure of air already in the bottle on the liquid and simultaneous through dispersion of the said air with the liquid to be atomized. The air supply is replenished through the same small opening or aperture through which the spray issues and this is accomplished rapidly without valves or complicated devices and without adverse effect on the leakproofness of the container. It is particularly desirable that the air passageways have a greaterwidth than height and, las pointed out previously, that they have a materially greater cross-sectional area than the diameter of the spray opening to the atmosphere as such `construction allows rapid replenishment of the air Within the container, thus making the device immediately operative for repeated spraying operations, the Vwalls of the container being depressed for only a Very short period of time between squeezings. f

Where the containers and plugs are made of a transparent synthetic plastic, to facilitate the users location of the aperture through which the liquid spray issues from the container, I find it convenient to have the area immediately surrounding said aperture suitably colored, for example, red, blue, green or the like.

While the invention has been described in detail, the scope thereof is not to be limited except as required by the state of the art and the limitations set out in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the lUnited States is:

1. An atomizer and closure plug shaped for disposal within the neck of a flexible bottle or like container for use of the resulting assembly as a self-contained atomizer, said plug being provided with an outer cylindrical wall and a depending hollow membervspaced from said outer cylindrical wall, aV generally cylindrical part having a vertical central bore therein and at least one flattened Vertical side wall and a groove along its top surface, said generally cylindrical part being frictionally held within said depending hollow member, the vertical central bore of spraymay be thrown or ejected, this can be adjusted, as previously indicated, by the angular relationship at which the air and liquid streams meet and, to some extent also, by the number of air passageways and the cross-sectional areas said generally cylindrical part being adapted to frictionally hold one end of a cylindrical tube, there being at least one vertical air passageway which isdeiined by portions of the inner wall of said hollow member and the flattened vertical side wall of said generally cylindrical part and which communicates with said groove on the top surface of said generally cylindrical part,.and a spray opening in the upper part of said plug and communicating with said groove and with said hollow member.

2. An atomizer and closure plug for insertion within :the neck.v of 1a.iiexible-fcontainer:forense or; theA :resulting -afssembly;-:.as.4 a .eelt-contained atomizer, .comprising a. .plug...;body .of-.generally inverted cup v.shape .for insertion withinjthe fneck of the container to..substantially: closefztheA same.; an annular -iiangerestingfentop iofasaidy neck and a `downwardlyfextending :annular proj eetiorrfiorm-` ing a .lower generally circular. socket, Ythe'. v4.said plug having ,a Vvert-icalA spray r opening; substanf tially centrally ofsaidsocket,;a.second;agenerally inverted cup f shaped member; frictionally' :sulp-V 6 f saidfsecondcup. shaped member adapted to fric-- tionally. receive: a :liquid carrying tube: for tion :in :a 'liquidinfsaidoontainer.

' f5j.,1An ,atomizer andclosu-replug..for'xinsertion within the sneckz'of-failexibleontainer-.for use pf theresulting assembly asza selfenontainedeatom- :comprising .fa A.plug .body of; ...generally tine vertedcupishapef-:Eor insertion withinthe. `neck ported said gsocket, ,.said .second..1cnpz.;shaped member having two :oppositely :disposed fexterior, vertical cut-away portionsfrand atop etransverse groove communicating at its' .ends-with; said.;cut. r

away portions, said second gcu'p. ishapedzmember having- 'a -liquidV opening.;,communicatingzgwith said ggroove: andr ingaligninent; withfsaid spray opening, said .groove form-ing opposed restricted air passageways fon' :opposite sides.1of.:.said.liquid opening andA .spraygopening when .said second cup shaped member :is 'fully inserted `vin itsisaidpfsocket, saldi second Vv'cup shaped,.vrnember adapted ,td-.lrica tiona'lly.: receivea iliquid carrying. tube foriinserf' .tion inaliquid in-.said'gcontainer y supported-1in said.:socket,saidfsecondrcupi shaped memberzchaving.. two opositelyadisposed exterior, y

othecontainernso substantially;.close the; same, and.aidownwardlyzextending,annulariproiection forming; :a lower :generally ,-circultnsocket;.l the saidfplug; havinga spray opening assecond generally. inverted .cup c Asha-pcd member airictionally uerticalficuteawayrportions; Aiarnifia top transverse groove'oommunicating attits sends withsaid cut..

havngia liquid. opening communicatingfwithcsaid grooveiahd'.. withxsaidzspray opening, :saidgroove forming'l opposed restricted. air...passagew3ys on opposite-sides of said.liquid..-.opening;.when said secondcup shaped member is lfnllyfinsertled .inits 'said.arsocket,i:said.second cup shaped .member adapted to :frictionally yreceivela liquid. carrying tube'iornsertionnj alliquid in .said container.

atomizer and closure :plug for :insertion within theneck -offa iiexihle container. forfuse of "the resulting .assembly .asr .-a v.self-jcontaineol atomizer, comprising. a v:plugsbody-for` .insertion c within-fthe; neck. ofthe.y containerto substantially vented ,cupeshaped member vfric'tionally` ksupported y inxsa-id socket, said: second cup ...shaped member having :.two. oppositely disposed exterior, vertical cuteaway. portions, :and la top-transverse groove communicating atl --its sends with Isaid cut-away portions, saidfsecond `icupshapedl member #having agliquid opening. communicating with said groove and iinalignment `with saidspra-y opening,

` said-'grooveforming Aopposed restricted airffpassageways on opposite sidesfof saidliquid-:open-ing and spray-opening when'saidsecondflcupfshapetl memberis fully inserted in its-said@socketeandra liquid V-carryingtube for -'insertion*vinlfajliquid V in--said .container said liquidcar'ryingtube hav-'f ingits -upper V`end irictional'ly supported in isalid second Vvcup shaped-member.v4 Y' 4. An atomizerl and closure'plug #for insertion wit'l'iin` the -neck of -a iiexible containerjfor-use of the resulting assembly-asl a self-contained atomizer, comprising a plug body-ofgenerally'-in-r verted cupishape 'for insertion within the neck ofthe .container -to substantially-close the same and a downwardly extending annular `projection forming a lower generally circular socket, the

said plug havingva vertical spray opening sub-` stantially centrally of said. socket, a secondgen-` erall'yinverted cup shaped member'frictionally supported in. said socket, said second ,cup shaped member having two oppositely. disposed exterior, verticalfcut-away portionsand a .top transverse groove 'communicating atjits` ends .with rsaid'cutawayjportions, said second '.cupshaped member having a uquid opening'communicatingjwitn.said groove .and in v'alig'nine'nt with .saiclspray opening, said groove forming opposed restricted air passageways on oppositesidesoi'said liquid open-VV ing and.. spray opening when, said secondzcup shaped member is fully insertediniits saidsocket,

closeylthea-:samagsaid y:plugcgbody.' having. .aelower generally ycircular socket', 1 the.. rsaid :plug :having awertical spray. opening;communicatingcwith said socket, a generally inverted; cup vshaped,member frictionally supportedzinsaidplugrsocket, said cup shaped member.A having. :two 'oppositely l.disposed exterior,v vertical Acut-.away portions, 1 and a top transverse groove communicating 4.at .its ends with' said cut-:awayportions, saidfzcupshaped.

memberhaving. a liquid opening. :communicating with '.saidpigroove: and with. said-spray opening, saidgroovefformingropposed restricted .air-1 pas- 'sageways on opposite sides of saidliquid opening when `said second; cup shaped-rnemb'erfis .fully insertedintitsssaid socket,` said-second cup shaped membervadapted to ifrictionally .receive va liquid carrying. tube 'for insertionin La .-liquid.r.in` :said container.

7.A An atomizer rand 'closure- *plug for `insertion Vwithinthe .neckpf afiiexiblecontainer for use of thelresultingY .assembly 4as a fselfecontainedfatomizer, comprising; a'splugpbody for :insertion .within themeckufv the zcon'tain'er to substantially :close the:same,pfsaid plug; bodyhaving aa .lower generally circular isocket the: said plug having avertical sprayjopening:communicating with said fsccket, a generally'v inverted cupv shaped, .member frictionally supported inl saidplug socket,v said'Y cup shaped. member. having two oppositely` disposed exti'erior,` vertical put-awayr portions, :and attop transversefgroove .communicating.atitseends with said. cut-.awayJpprtionsgsaid; cup shaped. mein# berzhavinga liquid.-openingcommunicating with saidlgroove with said spray..openinggfsaid Y groove 'orming opposed. .restricted -f air passage-A ways on opposite sides :of'said .liquid `opening .when said. secon-d` cup shaped member .is .fully vinserted infitssaid: socket, land a liquidV carrying tube for '.insertionin `a liquid. in saidL container, said-tube having .its upper endxfrictionallysupportedinsaidcup-shapedunember. 18;:,An atomizergand closureA plugffor insertion f Wthinrtheineckof a.:exihlea-.fcontainer forausekof the resulting assemblvas a .self-containedsatomiizer, comprising a plugbody for insertion within the neck of the container to substantially close the same, said plug body having a lower generally circular socket,l the said rplug having a vertical spray opening 'communicating' withsaid socket, a generally inverted cup shaped member frictionally supported in said plug socket, said cup shaped member having two oppositely disposed exterior, vertical cut-away portions, said cup shaped member having a liquid opening having its upper liquid discharge end'near said spray opening, means forming opposed restricted .transverse air passageways on opposite sides of said liquid opening when said second cup shaped member is fully inserted in its said socket, said transverse air passageways communicating with said liquid opening and with vertical air passageways formed by said cut-away portions, said second cup shaped member adapted to frictionally receive a liquid carryingY tube'for insertion in a liquid in said container.

9. An atomizer and closure plug vfor insertion within the neck of a flexible container for use ofthe resulting assembly as a self-contained atomizer, comprising a plug body for insertion within the neck of the container to substantially close the same, said plug body having a lower generally circular socket, the said plug having aspray opening communicating with said socket, a generally inverted cup shaped member fricsageway andwith said liquid passageway.

tionally supported in said plug socket, said cup away portion, said cup shaped member having' a liquid opening communicating with said groove and with said spray opening, said groove forming aY restricted air passageway to deliver relatively high velocity air substantially across said liquid opening when said second cup shaped member is fully inserted in its said socket, said second cup shaped member adapted to frictionally receive la liquid .carrying tube for insertion in a liquid in said container, p

10. An'atomizer and closure plug for insertion within the neck of a ilexible container for use of the resulting assembling as a self-contained atomizer, comprising :a plug body for insertion within the neck of the container to substantially close the same, said plug bodyhaving a lower generally circular socket, the said plug havingA a vertical spray opening communicating with said socket, -a generally inverted cup shaped member frictionally supported in said plug socket,

saidcup shaped member having a top vtransverse groove and a liquid opening communicating with said groove and with said spray opening, said groove forming opposed restricted air passageways on opposite .sides of said liquid opening when said second cup shaped member is fully inserted in its said socket, and means, including said cup shaped member, for delivering air from above the liquid in the container to opposite ends of said Vrestricted transverse passageway, said second cup shaped member adapted to frictionally receive a liquid carrying tube `for insertion f in a liquid in'said container. w

11. An atomizer and closureplug for insertion Within the neck of a iiexible container foruse 12. An atomizer and closure plug for insertion within the neck of a flexible container for use of the resulting assembly as a self-contained atomizer, comprising a plug'body for insertion Within the neck of the container to substantially close the same, said plug body having a lower generally circular socket; a 'generally inverted cup shaped member frictionally inserted in said plug socket, a tube extending into said cup shaped member for conveying liquid thereto, means including said socket and cup shaped member forming a pair of vertical air passageways, means including said socket. and cup shaped member forming a relatively restricted transverse air passageway communicating with the tops of said vertical air passageways,isaid cup shaped member having a liquidV passageway for delivering liquid from said tube to said transverse passageway, said plug having a spray opening communieating with said transverse air passageway and with said liquid passageway, saidrtube having its upper end frictionally supported in said cup shaped member.

13. An atomizer and closure plug for insertion within the neck of a flexible container for use of the resulting assembly as a self-contained atomizer, comprising a plug body for-insertion within the neck of the container to substantially close the same, said plug body having a lower generally circular socket, a liquid carrying member friction-ally inserted in said plug socket, means including said socket and liquid carrying member forming a pair of vertical air passageways, means including said socket and liquid carrying member forming at least one relatively. restricted transverse yair passageway communieating with said vertical air passageways adjacent the topfy thereof, said liquid carrying meinber adapted to receive a liquid carrying tube and having a liquid passageway for delivering liquid from said tube to said transverse passageway, said plug having a spray opening communicating with said transverse air passageway and with said liquid passageway, the aforesaid construction serving to intimately commingle air and liquid immediately before discharge through said spray opening.

JULES B. MONTENIER.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date v553,765 Ruppolt Jan. 28, 1896 630,277 Weitzung Aug. l, 1899 v639,024 Eggers Dec. 12, 1899 675,180 Waldman May 28, 1901 790,318 Sams May 23, 1905Y Y FOREIGN PATENTS y Number Country Date 263,699 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1927 

